Tag: buddha sculpture

Many Americans mistakenly identify the Budai as that of the Siddhartha Gautama Buddha. The Budai is often depicted holding a cloth sack and is commonly referred to as the laughing Buddha or the fat & happy Buddha. It is believed that the Budai is an incarnation of Maitreya or the future Buddha form that will succeed the historic Gautama Buddha by appearing on earth someday in the future at a time when Dharma will have been forgotten, in order to re-teach the pure dharma. He is said to appear on earth one day and achieve complete enlightenment, just as the historic Gautama, teaching the world his wisdom.

In Buddhist folk traditions it is said that the Budai is a man of good and loving character and is admired for his genuine happiness, plenitude and contentment. A popular belief is that rubbing his belly will bring about good luck, wealth, and overall prosperity. Incorporate a Fat & Happy Buddha Statue from Lotus Sculpture into your life and rub his belly for good luck and happiness!

“I am the All-Knowing, the All-Seeing, the Knower of the Way, the Opener of the Way, and the Preacher of the Way. Come to me, all you gods, men, and demons, to hear the law”.
~Lotus Sutra, Chapter Five~

View all our Buddha statues including this stone Gupta period Buddha statue

Buddhism and Buddhist art has traveled a long way from its simple beginnings. In the earliest Buddhist art of India, the Buddha was not represented in human form. His presence was indicated instead by signs, such as an empty seat, footprints, or space beneath a parasol. It wasn’t until the 1st century AD, when Buddhism expanded outside of India, when the human image of one Buddha came to dominate the artistic scene. The Golden Age, otherwise known as the Gupta period, from fourth to sixth century AD, adopted an ‘ideal image’ of the Buddha. Gupta Buddha statues, popularized with their eyes cast down, as if in a meditation state, and enriched with a spiritual aura, became the model for future generations of artists.

Throughout history, artists have given their own spiritual interpretation of the Buddha statue, but a few physical non-human characteristics continue to represent the nature of the Buddha.

“The All-Knowing”: The Bump of Knowledge; the uppermost bump at the head of a Lord Buddha statue. This symbolizes spiritual wisdom and a fully-developed top chakra. Chakras are believed to be centers of the body which a person can collect energy. This bump is typically covered with spiral shaped curls of hair that symbolize enlightenment.

“The All-Seeing”: The Urna, commonly translated as the third-eye, is a circular dot positioned in between the eyebrows of a Buddha statue. It is viewed as an auspicious mark and symbol of the Buddhas enlightenment; his ability to see past our mundane universe of suffering and see the true nature of the world. Legend also says that Buddha had one strand of white hair in the center of his forehead, from which emitted rays of light to enlighten the world. Some traditions believe the location of the Urna is the sixth chakra – center of energy and wheel of light.

“The All-Hearing”: As the art of Buddha sculpture evolved, superhuman characteristics became standard traits carved into the Buddha image. Among them are webbed fingers, very long arms, and long earlobes. The elongated ears are typically present in any given Buddha statue. This is an expression of the highest degree of respect. Long earlobes came to be a symbol of all who achieves enlightenment.

Many Americans are at least minutely familiar with the concept of Karma. We all learn in grade school about the universal laws of cause and effect or more accurately termed, Newton’s Laws of Motion: to every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction. The concept of Karma is very similarly defined but relating to our awareness rather than simply physical matter. Karma is the broad universal concept of cause and effect or action and reaction, which governs all consciousness. This means that everything we do, think, say, or encourage others to do produces either positive or negative karma. The karma that we produce both effects this lifetime, and our lifetimes to come.

When many people hear this they immediately think that this implies that our actions are not freely governed or that everything that happens to us is out of our control and already fated based on our past. But this is not the case. Karma should not be thought of as predestined fate, as we all act with free will creating our own destines. If we sow goodness in our lives we will reap goodness. We have the power to influence our Karmic piggy banks in a positive way with every kind gesture and thought. Although not all Karma is realized immediately or in this lifetime, it will come back to us in other lifetimes.

Through positive actions, unadulterated thoughts, prayer, mantras, and meditation we can all reconcile the influence of karma in this present life and turn our destinies for the better. Its never a bad time to remember to be kind unto others, or as our mothers always taught treat others the way you want to be treated. I believe the world could benefit from a lot more kindness. The next time you see someone struggling with a bag of groceries, lend a helping hand. The goodness you bring to the world every day will shine back on you. You can shape your future as you wish it.

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As the founder of Lotus Sculpture, I am dedicated to giving each and every customer a satisfying and pleasant shopping experience. Please contact me directly with your questions and comments at [email protected].